How to Live a Life That Commends Us to God

Living a life that commends one to God, or is "pleasing to God," is a recurring theme in biblical texts and Christian tradition, emphasizing a holistic approach to faith and conduct ^{[1, 2, 3]}. The Apostle Paul, for instance, encourages believers in Colossians to "live in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God" ^[1]. Similarly, in 1 Thessalonians, he urges believers to "live in a way that is pleasing to God" ^[3]. This concept extends beyond mere outward actions to encompass inner devotion and a continuous pursuit of God's will.

The Old Testament also highlights the importance of wholehearted devotion. In 1 Kings, the people are exhorted to have their "heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments" ^[4]. This suggests that pleasing God involves both an internal disposition and external obedience to divine commands. The question of "how should man be just with God?" posed in Job 9:2 (KJV) underscores the inherent human challenge in achieving such a life ^[5].

Core Principles of a God-Commending Life

Christian tradition identifies several foundational principles for living a life pleasing to God:

Faith and Trust in God: Believing God and in Christ is paramount ^[7]. This includes trusting in God's promises and enduring difficulties through faith, as exemplified by figures in the Old Covenant ^[19].
Love for God: This is presented as the "first great commandment," requiring love "with all the heart" ^[9]. Such love is commanded and is considered better than all sacrifices ^[9]. It is produced by the Holy Spirit and the understanding of God's love for humanity ^[9]. Love for God should manifest in joy, love for other believers, hatred of sin, and obedience to God's commands ^[9].
Obedience to God's Commands: Living in accordance with God's statutes and commandments is a consistent biblical directive ^{[4, 7]}. This obedience is not merely external but stems from a heart devoted to God ^[4]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Proverbs 3:1, emphasizes the need to fix God's law as a rule for life, to know and remember His commandments, and to yield obedience to them ^[13].
Following Christ's Example: Believers are called to follow the example of Christ in their conduct ^[7]. This involves living "soberly, righteously, and godly" in the present world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts ^{[6, 7]}.
Devotedness to God: This involves dedicating one's spirit, body, members, and substance to God ^[11]. It should be unreserved, abounding, and persevering ^[11]. This devotion is grounded in God's mercies, goodness, call, the death of Christ, and our creation, preservation, and redemption ^[11].

Manifestations of a God-Commending Life

Beyond these core principles, specific actions and attitudes are highlighted as ways to commend oneself to God:

Bearing Fruit in Good Deeds: The Colossians passage explicitly links pleasing God with "bearing fruit in every good deed" ^[1]. This implies an active, productive life that benefits others and reflects God's character.
Increasing in the Knowledge of God: A deeper understanding of God is presented as integral to living a worthy life ^[1]. This pursuit of knowledge informs and shapes one's conduct.
Fearing God: This involves reverence and awe, leading to obedience and respect for His authority ^[7].
Praising and Glorifying God: Thanksgiving and praise are central to a life devoted to God ^{[8, 10]}. God is worthy of praise for His majesty, glory, excellency, greatness, holiness, wisdom, power, goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness ^[8]. Christ also receives praise ^[8]. This praise should be offered with a fixed heart and freeness of expression, using one's tongue to honor God ^{[18, 20]}. Glorifying God is commanded and is due to Him for His holiness, mercy, truth, faithfulness, wondrous works, judgments, and deliverance ^[12]. It is accomplished by relying on His promises and praising Him ^[12].
Living Righteously and Soberly: Titus 2:12 (KJV) instructs believers to live "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" ^[6]. This encompasses self-control, ethical conduct, and a God-centered perspective in all aspects of life ^[7].
Enjoying God's Gifts with Gratitude: While avoiding indulgence, believers are encouraged to soberly and moderately use what Providence has allotted for their comfortable passage through this world ^[16]. This includes enjoying food, drink, and work as gifts from God ^[14]. Matthew Henry notes that this is not about indulging fleshly appetites but about using resources to serve God, do good, and find comfort ^[16].
Communion with God: Matthew Henry emphasizes that a life pleasing to God involves "a life of communion with God," which he describes as a great mystery of godliness with significant advantages ^[13].

Practical Considerations and Potential Pitfalls

The Christian tradition acknowledges that living a life pleasing to God is a continuous process. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalm 119:17, notes that human life itself is a gift of God's bounty, and if preserved, it is for the purpose of praising Him ^{[15, 17]}. The desire to live, for a good person, is often rooted in the desire to praise God and do something for His honor ^[17].

One common pitfall is to view this pursuit as a means of earning salvation or favor through works. However, the emphasis in many of these passages is on a response to God's prior grace and call ^[11]. The call to live pleasingly to God is often presented as a consequence of being called into His kingdom and glory ^[2].

Another pitfall can be legalism, where adherence to rules overshadows the underlying principles of love and faith. The emphasis on a "fully devoted heart" ^[4] and love as the "first great commandment" ^[9] suggests that the internal disposition is as crucial as external actions. Conversely, antinomianism, which disregards moral law, is also contrary to the biblical call for righteous living ^{[6, 7]}.

The pursuit of a life that commends one to God is therefore a dynamic process involving faith, love, obedience, and active participation in God's purposes, all rooted in gratitude for His grace.

Sources

Colossians “Colossians 1:10 (LEB) — so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, ⌞to please him in all respects⌟, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God,”
I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 2:12 (BBE) — So that your lives might be pleasing to God, who has given you a part in his kingdom and his glory.”
I Thessalonians “I Thessalonians 4:1 (BSB) — Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.”
I Kings “I Kings 8:61 (BSB) — So let your heart be fully devoted to the LORD our God, as it is this day, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments.””
Job “Job 9:2 (KJV) — I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?”
King James Version “[KJV] Titus 2:12 — Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Praise — God is worthy of -- 2Sa 22:4. Christ is worthy of -- Re 5:12. God is glorified by -- Ps 22:23; 50:23. Offered to Christ -- Joh 12:13. Acceptable through Christ -- Heb 13:15. Is due to God on account of His majesty. -- Ps 96:1,6; Isa 24:14. His glory. -- Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12. His excellency. -- Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13. His greatness. -- 1Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3. His holiness. -- Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3. His wisdom. -- Da 2:20; Jude 1:25. His power. -- Ps 21:13. His goodness. -- Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11. His mercy. -- 2Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1-4; 136:1-26. His loving-k”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Thanksgiving — Christ set an example of -- Mt 11:25; 26:27; Joh 6:11; 11:41. The heavenly host engaged in -- Re 4:9; 7:11,12; 11:16,17. Commanded -- Ps 50:14; Php 4:6. Is a good thing -- Ps 92:1. Should be offered To God. -- Ps 50:14. To Christ. -- 1Ti 1:12. Through Christ. -- Ro 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15. In the name of Christ. -- Eph 5:20. In behalf of ministers. -- 2Co 1:11. In private worship. -- Da 6:10. In public worship. -- Ps 35:18. In everything. -- 1Th 5:18. Upon the completion of great undertakings. -- Ne 12:31,40. Before taking food. -- Joh 6:11; Ac 27:35.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devotedness to God — A characteristic of saints -- Job 23:12. Christ, an example of -- Joh 4:34; 17:4. Grounded upon The mercies of God. -- Ro 12:1. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The call of God. -- 1Th 2:12. The death of Christ. -- 2Co 5:15. Our creation. -- Ps 86:9. Our preservation. -- Isa 46:4. Our redemption. -- 1Co 6:19,20. Should be With our spirit. -- 1Co 6:20; 1Pe 4:6. With our bodies. -- Ro 12:1; 1Co 6:20. With our members. -- Ro 6:12,13; 1Pe 4:2. With our substance. -- Ex 22:29; Pr 3:9. Unreserved. -- Mt 6:24; Lu 14:33. Abounding. -- 1Th 4:1. Persever”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Glorifying God — Commanded -- 1Ch 16:28; Ps 22:23; Isa 42:12. Due to him -- 1Ch 16:29. For his Holiness. -- Ps 99:9; Re 15:4. Mercy and truth. -- Ps 115:1; Ro 15:9. Faithfulness and truth. -- Isa 25:1. Wondrous works. -- Mt 15:31; Ac 4:21. Judgments. -- Isa 25:3; Eze 28:22; Re 14:7. Deliverance. -- Ps 50:15. Grace to others. -- Ac 11:18; 2Co 9:13; Ga 1:24. Obligation of saints to -- 1Co 6:20. Is acceptable through Christ -- Php 1:11; 1Pe 4:11. Christ, an example of -- Joh 17:4. Accomplished by Relying on his promises. -- Ro 4:20. Praising him. -- Ps 50:23. Doing all ”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
Ecclesiastes (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ecclesiastes 5:18: 5:18-20 The prescription for enjoying life is repeated: We should enjoy our food, drink, and work and appreciate them as gifts from God.”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:17: We are here taught, 1. That we owe our lives to God's mercy. David prays, Deal bountifully with me, that I may live. It was God's bounty that gave us life, that gave us this life; and the same bounty that gave it continues it, and gives all the supports and comforts of it; if these be withheld, we die, or, which is equivalent, our lives are embittered and we become weary of them. If God deals in strict justice with us, we die, we perish, we all perish; if these forfeited lives be preserved and prolonged, it is because God deals bountifully with us, according to ”
Ecclesiastes (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 5:18: Solomon, from the vanity of riches hoarded up, here infers that the best course we can take is to use well what we have, to serve God with it, to do good with it, and take the comfort of it to ourselves and our families; this he had pressed before, Ecc 2:24; Ecc 3:22. Observe, 1. What it is that is here recommended to us, not to indulge the appetites of the flesh, or to take up with present pleasures or profits for our portion, but soberly and moderately to make use of what Providence has allotted for our comfortable passage through this world. We must not s”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:175: David's heart is still upon praising God; and therefore, 1. He prays that God would give him time to praise him: "Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee, that is, let my life be prolonged, that I may live to thy glory." The reason why a good man desires to live is that he may praise God in the land of the living, and do something to his honour. Not, "Let me live and serve my country, live and provide for my family;" but, "Let me live that, in doing this, I may praise God here in this world of conflict and opposition." When we die we hope to go to a better w”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 95:1: The psalmist here, as often elsewhere, stirs up himself and others to praise God; for it is a duty which ought to be performed with the most lively affections, and which we have great need to be excited to, being very often backward to it and cold in it. Observe, I. How God is to be praised. 1. With holy joy and delight in him. The praising song must be a joyful noise, Psa 95:1 and again Psa 95:2. Spiritual joy is the heart and soul of thankful praise. It is the will of God (such is the condescension of his grace) that when we give glory to him as a being infinite”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 11:39: 11:39-40 The way to live as God’s people under the new covenant is to live as all these people did under the old covenant: by faith in God’s promises, enduring any difficulties faced in this world. • earned a good reputation: God has borne witness to their faithfulness (see also 11:2). • yet none of them received all that God had promised: They all died prior to Christ’s promised coming; the something better began with Christ’s sacrificial work (8:3–10:18) and anticipates the future culmination of God’s plan for his people. • would not reach perfection: See stud”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 108:1: We may here learn how to praise God from the example of one who was master of the art. 1. We must praise God with fixedness of heart. Our heart must be employed in the duty (else we make nothing of it) and engaged to the duty (Psa 108:1): O God! my heart is fixed, and then I will sing and give praise. Wandering straggling thoughts must be gathered in, and kept close to the business; for they must be told that here is work enough for them all. 2. We must praise God with freeness of expression: I will praise him with my glory, that is, with my tongue. Our tongue is”

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